Illuminating lamp for autos



Aug. 14, 1928. 1,680,508

v. s. DowNlNG A ILLUMINATING LAMP FoRAuTos Fild July 27, 1927 ATTORNEY Patented ug'Q 14, 19128.

I JNITEDA STATES PATENT- .oiFpica S. DOWNING, OF JACKSON, IMISSISSIPPI.

ILLUMTNATING LAMP Fon. noms.

Application fuea July 27, 1927. serial' No. 208,852.

supported from a, single bracket which mayl be readily attached to an automobile dash board .beneath the hood thereof.

The invention further contem lates an electric trouble lamp formoto'r ve icles embodying an extensible illuminatin bulb electrically connected with an extensi le conductor which in turn is in circuit' with the automobile electric system.

With the preceding and other objtsV and advantages in mind the -invention consists in the combination of elements, constructions, arrangement of parts and operations to be hereinafter specifically referred to, claimed and illustrated in the accompanyin drawings wherein: Y

igure 1 is afragmenta perspective of an automobile equipped wit the invention;

Figure 2 is a View partly in horizontal section and artly, in elevation of my improved troub e lamp ,with4 its electric circuit shown diagrammatlcally;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the device with the lamp partly extended.

Referring'to the invention in detail a sup porting bracket-5 is provided. This bracket 5 is formedV from a length of sheet metal bent into channel shaped formation and carryin at the longitudinal edges of its parallel an es laterally extending securing ears 6. As illustrated in Figure 1 the 'channel-p shaped-bracket is arranged upon the outer face of the automobile dash board below the hood and adjacent the engine with its parallel flanges dis osed horizontally and the securing ears he d to the'dash board b removable astenings 7 engaging the dash oard.

A lamp base or plug8 carrying an illuminating bulb 9 and a reiiector 10 1s provided,

and as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, s normally received by a laterally 'extending annular flange 11 surrounding an opening 12 in the vertical leg of the channelv shaped bracket.

To permit the lamp to be extendedto various points about the automobile an extensibleconductor 13 to be wound or unwound from a. drum/ 14 is electrically connected with the base vor plug 8. The drum 1 4 is arbetwen tha hormonal aan'g of the bracket and is supported upon a ho r i zontal shaft 15 carried by vertical arms 16 dependlng from the underface of" the -upper flange of the bracket andv secured thereto by rivets or other suitable fastenings 1l?. A

helicallyV wound Ispring 18 -is received upon the shaft and Within the drum with, one end attached to the shaft and its opposite end attached to thedrum so that upon rotation of the drum in'one directionincident to withdrawal of the conductor the spring will be l wound to rotate the drum in the reverse direction to rewind the conductor upon'release of the lamp.

' The electrical .circuit for operating the lamp includes the usual automobile supply,

Ibattery 19, having one terminal lelectrically connected to one of the binding' posts'of av switch 21 attached to the 4*vertical leg of the bracket by conductor 22. |S aced concentric collector rings 23 are fixe to one end of 'the drum each of which have electricalconnection with one terminal 'of the conductor 13 as at. 24. Brushes or contacts 25v are morunted upon an insulating block 26 attached 'to the lower horizontal flange of the bracket at a point to one side of the collector rings and resiliently tontacts with the lat# ter. Conductors 27 are electrically connected with vone of the battery terminals andbrushes and the other switch terminal and remaining brush respectively.l Y

It will be apparent that upon actuation of the switch to close the circuit an electric circuit will be completed through the lamp tached to a support with its parallel ianges extending horizontally and having a central openin 1n its vertical leg, arms depending from t e upper flan e of the bracket, a drum rotatably support thereb a conductor wound labout the drum an adapted to` be withdrawn therefrom, an extensible illuminating lamp attached to the conductor and normally supported in the openin and means operatlve upon withdrawal of conductor to rewind the latter upon manual release of the illuminating lamp.

2. In a device of the character described, a channel shaped bracket adapted to be attachedto a support with two parallel flanges extending horizontally and having a central opening in its vertical leg, arms depending from the upper flan e of the bracket, a drum rotatably supporte thereby, a. conductor wound about the drum and adapted to be withdrawn therefrom, an extensible illuminating lamp attached to the conductor and `normally supported in the openinn, and

l means operative upon withdrawal of t e c0n ductor to rewind the latter upon manual release of the illuminating lamp, collector rings carried by the drum and having electrical connection with the conductor` brushes rotatably supported thereby, a conductor wound about the drum and adapted to be withdrawn therefrom, and an extensible illuminating lamp attached to the conductor and normally supported in the opening.

VIRGIL S. DOVVNING. 

